Recall 20V222 affects 205 2019-2020 Ram Promaster and Transit vehicles for incorrectly set seat belt retractors. Repair is free at any franchised Ram dealer.
Ram is recalling 205 2019-2020 Promaster and Transit vehicles with Freedman Seating PT Foldaway and GO-ES Foldaway seats because the seat belt retractor block-out zone was set incorrectly. A belt that fails to secure the occupant increases injury risk in a crash, and Ram dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The front seat belt retractor in the 2019-2020 Ram Promaster and Transit is the spool mechanism that feeds seat belt webbing out and pulls it back in. It also locks the belt when needed, so the occupant stays held against the seat instead of sliding forward. On these vehicles, the issue is tied to Freedman PT Foldaway and GO-ES 3-point Foldaway seats.
The retractor's lockout range was set incorrectly. That means the belt does not lock within the required range under the seat belt standard, FMVSS 209. In practical terms, the belt can fail to hold the occupant the way it was designed to hold them, even though the buckle and webbing are present.
What you can notice is unusual belt movement while pulling the webbing back out. A failed retractor either lets no webbing come out after it retracts, or lets more than 700mm (27.5 in.) of webbing come out.
Who's affected?
Covers Promaster and Transit vans from the 2019 and 2020 model years, with the front seat belt retractor as the shared component.
| 2019 Ram Promaster | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2019 Ford Transit | seat belt |
| 2020 Ford Transit | seat belt |
| Units affected | 205 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific van is included.
What's the safety risk?
A faulty seat belt retractor can lock the belt or let too much webbing out, leaving the occupant unsecured. An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in a crash. If a belt will not pull out normally or extends far beyond normal travel, use another seating position and schedule the repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Ram dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2019-2020 Ram Promaster or Transit vehicle is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ram dealer to schedule the free seat-belt retractor replacement that fixes the incorrectly set retractor block out zone.
- Bring the recall notice if TransitWorks mailed one. If not, reference recall number 20V222 when you call.
- Call Ram customer service at 1-800-443-4540 with parts or reimbursement questions before the appointment.
- Limit passenger use of the affected Foldaway seats until the seat-belt retractor repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Ram technician replaces the affected seat belt retractors at no charge. The recall repair is available, and parts and labor are covered. Freedman Seating Company supplies replacement retractors using information submitted through its online form and reimburses recall repair costs for parts and labor. If you already paid for a related seat belt retractor repair, ask the service desk to use the Freedman Seating Company reimbursement process and include your prior repair paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| April 20, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 27, 2020 | Dealer notification began |
| April 29, 2020 | Dealer notification ended |
| May 13, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V222?
Recall 20V222 covers 205 2019-2020 Ram Promaster and Transit vehicles with certain foldaway seats. The seat belt retractor block out zone was set incorrectly, so the belt does not properly secure the occupant. Dealers will replace the retractors for free.
What should I do if my 2019-2020 Ram Promaster or Transit is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 20V222. If it is, contact a franchised Ram dealer to schedule the seat belt retractor replacement. Reference recall number 20V222 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to correct this defect at no cost, and the dealer will replace the affected seat belt retractors free of charge. Dealers can contact Freedman Seating Company for parts and reimbursement information at 1-800-443-4540.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is that the seat belt does not properly secure the occupant. An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in a crash. Until the repair is complete, confirm your VIN and schedule the free retractor replacement if your vehicle is included.
What if I bought this vehicle used?
The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to honor the recall regardless of ownership history. If you never received a letter, check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Promaster or Transit is included, then call the dealer with recall number 20V222.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V222000 |
|---|---|
| Ram customer service | 1-800-443-4540 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V222 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V222000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →